Beating Up Daniel |
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Summary:
Justin is paired with Travis to work on a geography project. He thinks it would be cool to be involved with Travis and some of his friends even though this means Justin missed taking part in the spring play. Eventually he realizes that Travis is not pulling his weight in the partnership. Then Travis almost gets them arrested for stealing a teacher's boat. But the teacher understands the pressure Justin is under and offers him support. Finally Travis hatches a plan to beat Daniel for supposedly stealing Travis' girlfriend. Actually the girl does not like Travis. It turns out Daniel can take care of himself - he's taken karate for ten years. In the last chapter Justin confronts Travis about his poor choices. Then, when a gang threatens to beat up both Travis and Justin, Daniel shows up and says the police are coming, showing his generosity of spirit. |
Before You Read — Pre-Reading
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Chapter One—Pain in the Neck
Summary:
Justin Andrews, a grade ten student at Bayview High, has just completed a scene in drama class as Dracula. His teacher and the class are pleased with his work. He and Jessica clean up the set. Justin and John are teased as they head to the locker room to change clothes. Daniel comes into the locker room to change after his noon-hour run. Justin heads to class late wondering who will be his project partner in geography. |
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Chapter Two—Stuck with a Meathead
Summary:
Justin gets to geography class to discover that he has been paired with Travis for the main project. While Justin jot-notes ideas, Travis doodles and writes notes to girls. Justin lays out what both of them need to accomplish on the weekend to be ready to hand in an outline on Monday. Travis's girlfriend Kyra shows up to talk to Travis, but he does not give her the love note. |
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Chapter Three—Jealous
Summary:
Justin goes to English class. The pregnant teacher is not there yet. Justin sees that Jessica has the note that Travis wrote. John and Justin walk home after school but take some teasing from Travis. Justin is angry with Travis for giving Jessica a note when he already has a girlfriend. At home on the weekend, Justin works on the geography project. |
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Chapter Four—Public Enemy #1
Summary:
Justin wakes up early Monday morning and goes to school with his sister Emily. He plans to tell Travis off for not helping. Travis manipulates him with flattery in front of a group of grade eleven girls. Justin wants to hang out with the “in” crowd so he does not support his friend John when he is being bullied. Kyra and Travis have a fight in the hall and Kyra leaves with Daniel. |
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Chapter Five—Hanging Out
Summary:
Everyone listens to Travis go on and on about Daniel and Kyra. He will not listen to reason from anyone else. In geography class, Travis grabs the assignment and hands it in as if he worked on it. Travis invites Justin to his house. Justin skips drama club and babysitting. |
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Chapter Six—The Plan
Summary:
Justin works on the geography project. He is counting on Travis to do his part so he can just copy it to his computer file. He backs out of babysitting, skips a detention for being late and misses drama club tryouts. He tells the English teacher he has a doctor's appointment so he can leave early. Justin goes to Travis's house and is awed by the place. Travis has a plan to beat up Daniel for taking his girlfriend. Justin does not want to wimp out. |
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Chapter Seven—Party On
Summary:
On Thursday, Justin had to face the drama teacher for skipping drama club, the shop teacher for skipping detention and Jessica for not trying out for the school play. No one is impressed. Justin asks Travis for his part of the work and when he gets home he finds the disk is almost empty. He pulls an all-nighter to finish the project. The next day Travis tells him there must have been a disk error. That night Justin goes to Travis's house for a party. A few of Travis's friends and three girls including Jessica, are there. |
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Chapter Eight—Who Puked?
Summary:
The party at Travis's house gets out of control. Too many people show up and they trash the house. Travis gets drunk and throws up all over himself. Justin tries to clean up and stop fights. He finally calls the police and his sister Emily. |
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Chapter Nine—Close Call
Summary:
Emily and Justin clean up the house and, with Jamal's help, rinse off Travis in the bathtub. Emily drives the drunken people home. The next day Justin studies for his geography mid-term and heads to a basketball game. Travis mumbles thanks to Justin. When he sees Daniel, Travis harasses him, smacks him around and pushes his head into the water fountain. Kyra wipes away the blood, kisses Daniel on the cheek and punches Travis in the stomach. Everyone laughs. Travis goes after Daniel and is about to punch him but Mr. Thomas, a teacher, is standing nearby. |
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Chapter Ten—The Test
Summary:
Justin studies all day Sunday for his geography exam. Travis is confident because he is sitting beside Justin. Mr. Thomas helps one of the students with his exam in the hallway and checks back in the classroom several times. Justin catches Travis looking at his exam paper. In the hallway after class, Travis tells Tom he did well thanks to his buddy Justin. In English class, Justin has a pop quiz on Catcher in the Rye but has not finished reading the book. After class he sees Travis arguing with Mr. Thomas. Mr. Thomas knows someone has cheated on the exam. |
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Chapter Eleven—Accused
Summary:
Justin, Travis and Mr. Thomas discuss the exam in the hallway. Travis insists he studied and Justin copied from him. Justin is stunned. He says nothing. When Mr. Thomas asks if Travis is telling the truth, Justin says, “I guess so.” Mr. Thomas calls him into the classroom. He accuses Justin of covering up for Travis and trying to be cool with a new group of friends. He asks Justin to think about what he is doing. |
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Chapter Twelve—Sent Up the River
Summary:
Justin sees his old buddy John in the hallway. John knows that Travis stabbed Justin in the back and wonders why Justin did not show Mr. Thomas his study notes. John asks Justin to walk home but he goes with Travis. Justin wants to confront Travis about cheating. Travis gives Justin the sob story about being sent to military school. Jessica gives Justin a bad time about his new friends. She does not like Travis and told Kyra about the note Travis gave her. Travis explains to the guys how he is going to take care of Daniel. Justin does not feel so great about his friendship with Travis because he only calls when he needs help with schoolwork. |
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Chapter Thirteen—Busted!
Summary:
Travis calls Justin to ask a favour. He wants Justin to help him move his uncle's boat out of the marina. There is a trailer hitch on Justin's mom's car. He tells his mom he is going to see John. Justin picks up Travis and they head to the marina. Travis seems nervous. Travis starts up a boat and pushes it closer to the trailer. He tells Justin to roll up his pants and to guide the boat onto the trailer. A car pulls up to see what is going on. It is the police. Justin tries to explain but Travis disappears. The police officers grill Justin, frisk him for weapons and check to see if he is driving a stolen car. Just then, another car comes down the road. It is Mr. Thomas. The boat is his! |
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Chapter Fourteen—Caught Red-Handed
Summary:
Mr. Thomas suspects Travis is part of the scheme and covers for Justin. When he sees the police car from his house on the hill he comes down to check things out. He asks Justin to help him put the boat back. Justin drives to Travis's house to drop off the trailer and is furious. He marches up to Travis pushes him out of the way and yells at him. Dave and Jamal are not impressed and stand beside Justin. Travis tries to laugh it off and apologize. Justin leaves without shaking hands, goes home and throws up. |
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Chapter Fifteen—Help from a Friend
Summary:
Justin goes to see Mr. Thomas. Mr. Thomas shares his own high school experiences and lectures him about making good choices. John has given Mr. Thomas Justin's study notes. Travis will have to re-write the exam. Justin avoids Travis all day and eats lunch with Jamal. Neither of them wants to go to Pizza Pit to see Daniel get beaten up by Travis. Justin decides to tell Daniel about the scheme after he comes up with a plan of his own. |
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Chapter Sixteen—Watch Your Back
Summary:
Justin finds Daniel and tells him about Travis's plan to beat him up. Daniel thanks him and says he will take care of things. Travis comes over and apologizes for acting like a jerk about Kyra and invites Daniel to Pizza Pit. Jamal and Justin agree to go and stand up for Daniel. Justin tells his sister Emily about the plan and she goes along and waits in the parking lot in case of an emergency. Daniel shows up on time and Travis invites him outside to talk where it is not so noisy. |
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Chapter Seventeen—Flying Fists
Summary:
Justin, Jamal and Dave go outside with Travis and Daniel. Justin worries that Travis may have a weapon. Daniel questions Travis about the purpose of the talk. Travis taunts Daniel and pushes him around. Daniel does not want to fight but is prepared to defend himself. When Travis throws a fist, Daniel blocks it. When Travis lunges at him, Daniel flips him over his shoulder with a karate move. Jessica slaps Justin and he explains that he is with Daniel. Jessica whispers in his ear to call her later. Daniel and Jamal offer Travis and Justin a ride home. Travis decides to walk. Justin tells Emily to go home. He wants to tell Travis what he thinks of him so he catches up to him. |
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Chapter Eighteen—Turning the Tables
Summary:
Justin and Travis walk along the railway tracks in the dark. Justin tells Travis what he thinks of his behaviour. Travis tries to pull the sympathy card about military school. Justin thinks it might be a good idea for Travis to go to military school. They hear footsteps and are cornered by a gang who want money, their jackets and running shoes. They want Travis's gold watch too. Just when they are expecting a beating, headlights appear at the end of the alley. The car pulls up toward them and someone yells that the police are on the way. Travis and Justin jump in the car. The gang runs when they hear sirens. Justin smiles. It is Daniel on his way home. |
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After Reading — Post-Reading Reflection
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